People have blamed Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) for the Barabati fracas that "sullied" the image of Odisha at the international level. Even, the BCCI asked you submit a reply to its show cause on what went wrong gone during the T20 match between India and South Africa.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had asked us to submit a reply on why water bottles were allowed inside the stadium against ICC norms during the cricket match. We submitted our reply. We had allowed the spectators to enter the stadium with the plastic water bottles on humanitarian grounds. We are confident that the BCCI will be satisfied with our explanation and will not take any stringent measures against us.
There have been allegations that there was huge kick back involved in allowing various companies to sell their water bottles inside the stadium despite the ban. What do you say?
Whatever decision had been taken, was based on humanitarian considerations. The police had also been informed about it. There were water taps at the stadium. As many people do not like to drink water from the taps, we had allowed the people to bring in and also allowed a vendor to sell them.
If everything was transparent, why did the police lodge an FIR without consulting the OCA on this issue?
It's better if you put this question to the police. When you do good things, everyone will shower praises on you. But when anything goes wrong, you will be singled out and branded as a culprit. The state home secretary has started his inquiry and wanted some specific inputs. Accordingly, we have submitted our reply. Henceforth, we have planned to serve the spectators water inside the stadium in paper glasses.
Sunil Gavaskar had come down heavily on the OCA and called for a ban on Barabati as a venue for international matches for at least two years...
I do have all respect for the great batsman. But I just want to know what locus standi does he have on this issue. He is just a commentator at this moment. Someone might have instigated him to speak like this. I just want to know where these people were when a match between India and Sri Lanka had to be abandoned at Eden Gardens in 1996 following unruly crowd behaviour. Here at least, we managed to complete the match. There were match referees and other officials who can take a call on this issue and examine whether any disciplinary norms had been breached. Others should not poke their nose into it. And don't forget that we had successfully hosted the Pakistani women's cricket team at Barabati during the Women's World Cup when no other cricket association was willing to take the risk.
Why did such a thing happen when scores of police and a huge number of OCA officials were present in the stadium?
We noticed that the bottles had been thrown from gallery No. 4. A section of the crowd had been doing it with an ulterior motive. I strongly suspect that the spectators who had done it were not from Cuttack and they did it to defame Barabati.
We have been noticing serious difference of opinion between you and OCA president Ranjib Biswal after the Barabati fracas...
It was I who had helped him get elected as the president of the OCA. We constantly lend our support to him on various issues. I can say with all confidence that there are no differences between us.
How much funds does the OCA gets from the BCCI for the overall development of cricket?
We get around Rs 15 crore per annum. Besides, there is a provision for the BCCI to give nearly Rs 100 crore to the corpus fund for the infrastructure development of sports. Under this provision, the OCA will also have to bear 50 per cent of the cost. We are also paying Rs 1.5 lakh to the affiliated organisations such as 32 district units, 27 clubs, 10 schools and five colleges. Besides, we have started a pension scheme for those who have played Ranji matches. The BCCI has a rule that only players who have played 25 Ranji matches will get pension, but we give pension to players who have played less matches too.
The CBI has already interrogated you for your alleged connection with the money deposit collection company Artha Tatwa's chief Pradeep Sethy, who is now in jail. He had donated Rs 1 crore for the inaugural edition of the state T20 cricket tournament, OPL, in 2011. What is the status of the case?
Whatever we had done was in the interest of cricket. We had no vested interests. The agency interrogated me seven times. We submitted whatever documents they had sought for, we submitted. I do have all faith in the investigation process of the central agency. We hope they are satisfied with our clarifications.
You are the general secretary of Orissa Olympic Association and it has been accused of encroaching on premium government land for furthering your own interests. The accountant-general has also conducted its probe on this issue...
We had got 20 acres of government land on lease for the construction of Barabati Stadium in 1949. But in the mid 70s, the government had informally given six acres of land adjacent to the vacant government land. In order to make it sustainable, we sub-leased the land and developed various business establishments, including a marriage mandap. The high court had ordered the cancellation of lease of a part of the land. Later, we moved Supreme Court through a special leave application. The apex court has started its inquiry. Since the matter is sub-judice, it will be better not to comment on it.
Your son Sanjay is now secretary of the Football Association of Odisha (FAO). You are also heading a number of sports organisations. Some say that the father-and-son duo is trying to control Barabati and other sports organisations...
He is a football player and has played many matches. Both of us have been elected following due procedure. Incidentally, both of us are sports lovers and want to do something for the betterment of sports. You must be aware that big names such as Pyari Mohan Mohapatra and Soumya Ranjan Patnaik had also tried to contest but people continued to repose their faith in us. I have been elected continuously as the Cuttack district athletic association general secretary since 1974, Odisha Olympic Association secretary since 1988 and OCA secretary since 2000.
The OCA had earlier roped in Australian cricketer Michael Bevan and spent Rs 57 lakh on hiring him to coach the Odisha cricketers. Is there any other proposal of this kind for Odisha?
There is no such proposal at this moment. We have decided to nurture our own talent and give maximum exposure to our players and former players. Both Debasis Mohanty and Shiv Sunder Das are guiding the team. On Tuesday, I received a call from Irfan Pathan, who is interested to play for Odisha in the Ranji Match. I politely said no to him and said we would promote our own players.
There have been allegations that the OCA had allowed overage players to play under in under-16 and under-19 teams. What do you say?
We had received such complaints. But the BCCI is now serious about it. After we select players under different categories, we make them undergo medical examinations and their certificates are also examined.
Media reports said the OCA had trimmed grass on the stadium pitch overnight recently during a Ranji match between Odisha and Assam, as a result of which the latter got defeated...
These allegations are baseless. After the match, the Assam authorities also thanked us and said they will try to nurture some fast bowlers.
There are also allegations that the OCA picks up players for various teams from either the coastal belt or those affiliated to the club of your son.
Things have been changed over the years. Now you will not find players only from Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. Talents are coming from all over the state. If we do select the wrong players, we will not only harm our own selves but also do injustice to the state.
Can we hope that this time the East Zone, especially the Odisha players, will get a fair chance to get a berth in national team?
There is keen competition among players to get a berth in the national team. The selectors are under tremendous pressure too. Even Ranjib Biswal, as chairman of the IPL, had tried to give Odia players a chance at the international level. If the players do not perform, what can we do? Just be patient, things will change in the next five years.
Do you have specific plans to encourage women's cricket?
We will give platform to budding players to showcase their talent. We are going to open an academy in Balangir.
Recently, some goons had hurled bombs at your house...
I believe in God. The death of a person is destined. You cannot cow us down by hurling bombs at us. I do what I have to do.
SPORTS IN HIS BLOOD
A sports lover, the 73-year-old former Christ College student is a household name in sports administration in Odisha
Hailing from a poor family, Behera was a sprinter and held the 100m record with 11.2 seconds. It was later broken
A close associate of former chief minister J.B. Patnaik, he was the chairman of the Cuttack Municipality in 1995
WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN HAD YOU NOT BEEN A SPORTS ADMINISTRATOR?
I would have continued in the field of sports. However, to eke out a living, I might have taken up some business as well.
